Chapter Eight

Eliza and Mac were talking about the attempt on his life when a knock came on the door. However it was Mac, who figured since whoever was on the other side of the door wasn't trying to sneak in, had to be okay, that called out, "Come in!" He noticed how quickly Eliza moved to his side. It both flattered, and slightly irritated him. Not that he resented her being so protective, he didn't. He simply wanted to be able to defend himself. Neither he nor Eliza were surprised when Pete and Jim entered the room.

"I wondered if I would be getting a visit from your department." Mac looked from Pete to Jim, then back to Pete. "Don't suppose you are here to tell me who tried to kill me and why."

"I wish we were." Pete removed his hat. "However, we were hoping he had actually said something, anything, to you."

"You mean that would tell you why he wanted me dead?" Mac asked as he started readjusting his position. Without half thinking, Pete and Eliza both moved to help him. Once again, Mac felt both gratitude and irritation. Though, he pushed the irritation aside. After all, he knew he needed the help—as his lower leg had a cast on it since the X-ray had proven he did indeed have a couple of hairline fractures.

"Basically," Pete stepped away from the hospital bed.

Mac hesitated, running the scene through his mind. "Well," he took a deep breath, "As I told Eliza before you got here, the man's exact words were 'Well, MacDonald, I see they didn't do a very good job. I can only assume he was talking about the two men who dumped me in that ghost town, and my last name is MacDonald. Mac must be a nickname."

When Pete and Jim heard what Mac had to tell them, they were recalled the conversation they'd had with their friend Doctor Brackett, who had had been talking with General Receiving's chief of staff before Dr. Brackett had headed to Rampart General. The conversation the two officers had had with Dr. Brackett had taken place as he left the building; it had been centered on Mac, his amnesia and whether or not he should flat-out be told who he was.

"On the record, from a professional standpoint of view?" Dr. Brackett looked at both officers and spoke in his famous no-nonsense tone of voice. "I would have to say tell him. However," Dr. Brackett, who had been standing rather rigid, let out a sigh and relaxed his posture ever so slightly, "off the record? I'd say ask him if he wants to be told. I mean, nothing is in his control at the moment. Everyone I have ever met wants to have at least a bit of control in their hands when it comes to their own lives. You might get less push back if you do.'

"Would you like someone to tell you? I mean, if someone knew who you were, and was willing to tell you everything; well, everything they knew about you, would you want to be told?" Jim spoke up before Pete, who was just getting ready to ask Mac the same thing.

The questions took Mac by surprise. Though, as he thought about it, he didn't know why. After all, he had told Eliza he felt like he worked in Los Angeles. 'I promise, I'm not a Rookie.' Eliza's words while in the ghost town came back to Mac as he looked into the faces of the two officers who stood before him. For the first time he realized there was something familiar about them, a familiarity he realized had been there all along—only he'd been to occupied by the pain he was in to see it. He had to know them! Only...was it on a professional level or simply because they too worked in Los Angeles? Still... just as Dr. Brackett had thought, Mac wanted some control in his own life.

"Before I answer that, tell me one thing. Am I wanted by the police? Have I broken any law?" Mac had to know that one.

Smiles a mile wide spread across both Pete's and Jim's faces. 'Oh, you're more than wanted!' They both thought silently. "No, you haven't broken any laws." Jim looked at both Mac and Eliza-her eyes had been silently begging him to say those exact words.

"I told you- you are a good man." Eliza's eyes were beaming as she looked at her new friend.

"He is at that." Pete agreed and repeated the questions Jim had just asked.

Mac thought a moment and shook his head. "Agree with me or not only, since Eliza and Robert have offered me a place to stay for now, I'd like some time to remember on my own. That is, unless you're going to tell me I have children in town that would be upset by it." Mac rested his hand on his leg. "My ribs and this leg are going to take time to heal. I won't be able to do a thing, or go anywhere far, until they do. If you asked those questions because you have one, or more than one, person looking for me, will you please beg them to give me time. I promise, if by the time I'm healed up, I don't remember, I'll ask you." He looked at the two officers while he spoke only it didn't pass by Pete, Jim or Eliza that Mac's eyes moved straight to Pete when he said the last part of his reply. If they'd asked Mac why, he wouldn't have been able to explain it...except to say he knew it was Pete he would talk to.

Since Mac had mentioned children, Pete thought it best to mention Mac's son-even if he wasn't currently in LA. "Your only child- a son – is in the military and is currently overseas. No one will fight you staying with the Parkers for the time being. Only, what about visitors? I know some people who will want to see for themselves you're alright." Pete knew he was right about that one.

"Fine, as long as they don't push me to remember and can accept the fact that I'll be staying with the Parkers until I completely heal. Now, back to the matter on hand." Mac looked at the two policemen, with a very serious look. "Since it's obvious the man who tried to kill me here at the hospital has got to have been tied in with the men who dumped me in the ghost town, don't you think you should be looking into the people those two were associated with instead of standing here worrying about whether I'll remember who I am on my own or whether you'll have to tell me?" Without even realizing it, Mac was using the same tone he always used when talking to them-or any of the officers-in his office about various circumstances. It made both Pete and Jim chuckle inside while Eliza bit her lip to keep from making any smart remark that might be taken wrong.

"Jim will contact the station. They'll get right on that. However," Pete turned as if to leave the room, "Our watch commander wants us to stand guard outside your door for a while. Other officers will take our place when we have to leave. Whoever that man was, he might try to get in here a second time. We're not going to let that happen. So, if you need anything, just ask. We'll be happy to help." He then left the room with Jim right behind him.

"You can go to your house. There's no need for you to stay here now, and I know you've got to have a lot of unpacking to do. Though, I want to thank you, again, for all your help." Mac looked at Eliza with a look that asked, 'Are you going to argue with me, and tell me I'm wrong?'

Eliza, who was more than ready to go home, and had felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders when she heard Pete say Mac's room was going to be under guard, nodded. "I'll go home…but I-or Robert- will be back later."

"Fine, just get out of here for a while." Mac chuckled when Eliza gave him a fake salute and walked of the room. He relaxed and closed his eyes. It was going to feel good to simply lay in the hospital bed and rest without worrying about anything.

* I have never heard Sergeant MacDonald called anything but Sergeant and Mac. For all the episodes I've watched, and am watching, and all my research, I can NOT find another name. So, if someone can tell me a first name- or tell me if his first name was indeed Mac, I'd appreciate it. In this AU, it's a nickname.